MILLTOWN – There is a smile that spreads across the face of 8-month-old Tommy Dumanski that tugs at the heart of his mother, Jeannette.

For her, it is a sign that, even as he is about to undergo chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant for a rare disease known as Chronic Granulomatous Disorder (CGD), he will pull through and smile even wider for years to come.

The life-threatening and life-limiting condition, according to the CGD Society, impacts nearly 6,000 people in the U.S. and Europe. The disorder is genetic and can occur because of a random mutation in one's DNA. People with CGD can't fight bacterial or fungal infections effectively because they have a faulty bone marrow gene, meaning that some of their white blood cells, called neutrophils, don't work properly.

Along with medication, doctors have been able to successfully treat CGD with bone marrow transplants, such as the one Tommy will receive Aug. 27 at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

"Tommy was born in December of 2013 and started to get sick in February," said Jeannette, whose family has resided in Milltown for five generations.

Fevers brought him in and out of the hospital, resulting in severe pneumonia in one of his lungs.

Even though he was released from the hospital, Jeannette's concerns lingered and she decided to ask the pediatrician about pursuing a second opinion, which brought the Dumanski family to CHOP, where a pulmonologist evaluated Tommy and diagnosed him with CGD.

As the search for a bone marrow donor was underway, Jeannette and her husband, Tom, were relieved to learn that their 8-year-old daughter, Jenna, was a perfect match.

The Dumanskis also have a 6-year-old daughter, Hailey.

"We definitely didn't want Jenna to feel any pressure to go through with the transplant," Jeannette said, "but she told us, 'Mommy and Daddy, I want to be the one to save Tommy's life.'

"She is very generous and gracious and we are so proud of her. She's an all-American girl."

Flamingos to take flight

An outpouring of support for Tommy has continued to bond the close-knit community since residents learned of his battle with CGD.

Two of Jeannette's friends have organized fundraisers to sell awareness bracelets. Firefighters who work beside Tom have offered support. Another friend hosted a comedy fundraiser at Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club in Point Pleasant.

And, the spirit of a 14-year-old resident, Emily Sullivan, and her bond with the ever-grinning Tommy has swept through the borough in a particularly poignant way.

Emily, who learned about Tommy's condition through her mother, felt moved to launch her own fundraiser.

"At end of July, Emily came to me with a formal proposal for a fundraiser," said Jeannette, adding that the youngster has been recovering from a bad concussion suffered while playing soccer.

After doing some research with her mother, Emily came across a unique fundraiser taken up by a football team that would include posting flocks of pink flamingos for a modest donation on the lawns of residents' homes, as well as storefronts owned by local merchants.

Emily also published a Facebook page, "Tommy's Troop," which chronicles her fundraising efforts and Tommy's struggle with CGD.

According to Emily, the flocks of flamingos would "land" on the properties through the end of August for a minimum donation of $10. They also could be removed and relocated to another Milltown address, and "Anti-Flamingo Insurance," which would keep the flocks from returning to one's lawn during the fundraiser period, could be purchased for another donation.

All proceeds will directly benefit the Dumanski family to help manage the expenses associated with Tommy's care and August transplant.

"In my family, I've had experience with sick babies in our past," Emily said. "I know the financial and emotional toll that it can take and that it can be very taxing. My family and the Milltown community have always been familiar with how important it is to give back to others.

"As the oldest of six children, I'm really close to all of them, but I have a special bond with my brother who is the second oldest, and spending time with Tommy is like seeing my brother like a baby again."

Ready to fight

Jeannette reported that Tommy will undergo eight days of three types of chemotherapy beginning Aug. 19 before the transplant takes place.

"From the chemotherapy, he will experience the normal side effects, such as mouth sores, loss of hair, and it is possible that he will have to have a feeding tube in place," she said.

When asked about how she approaches every day during her son's fight against CGD and what helps her maintain a positive attitude, she said, "It's the smile on Tommy's face. He has always been one of the happiest babies."

"He wakes up with a smile and goes to sleep with a smile. That makes me believe that everything will be alright," she said.

To participate in Emily Sullivan's fundraiser and have a flock of flamingos land on your property, email the "Flamingo Wranglers" at flamingosfortommy@gmail.com. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/wegotthistommy.

Checks made payable to Thomas Dumanski Jr., also may be sent to the family at 18 Riva Ave., Milltown, NJ 08850.